German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that China will purchase up to 120 aircraft from Airbus, following high-level talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing yesterday. The landmark deal comes as Berlin and Beijing aim to strengthen their decades-long economic partnership amid global uncertainty.
Merz’s visit highlights Germany’s delicate balancing act: deepening trade with China, now Germany’s largest trading partner, while acknowledging Beijing as a strategic rival in the West.
“China’s commitment to purchase up to 120 Airbus planes shows how productive such visits can be,” Merz told reporters, hinting that more contracts are in the pipeline. The discussions also covered sensitive international issues, including Taiwan and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Merz emphasized that any reunification with Taiwan must occur peacefully, while Xi underlined diplomacy as the key to resolving the Ukraine conflict.
The leaders agreed to pursue closer strategic ties, with Merz describing the trip as a “great opportunity” to expand economic cooperation, and Xi signaling his readiness to elevate bilateral relations to “new levels.”
Merz’s delegation included business leaders from Volkswagen, BMW, and Mercedes, reflecting the deep integration of German industry in China. Agreements were signed on climate change, food security, and fair trade practices, even as China continues to exert control over critical mineral exports—a point of concern for European manufacturers.
Germany’s export-driven economy relies on partnerships worldwide, Merz said, stressing “fair cooperation” during his meeting with Premier Li Qiang at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People. Li added a pointed remark about the rise of “unilateralism and protectionism” in some countries, a subtle reference to past U.S. trade policies.
Merz’s visit also included cultural and technological stops, such as Beijing’s Forbidden City, a Mercedes autonomous-driving vehicle plant, and AI-focused facilities in Hangzhou, including Unitree Robotics and Siemens Energy. German industrial leaders hope the chancellor will press for reforms addressing overcapacity, market distortions, and export controls in China to avoid future trade conflicts.
As global uncertainty grows, this deal signals China’s aim to be seen as a reliable, stabilizing partner, while Germany navigates the tricky waters of economics and geopolitics. Beyond the headlines, the trip also humanizes diplomacy: it’s about building trust, fostering dialogue, and ensuring that economic ties translate into shared prosperity—not just contracts on paper.
